The Davao Region Tourism Council and the Department of Tourism in Region (DOT) here are now on their all out efforts for hosting the biggest Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE 2009) on August 20-22 at Davao Convention and Trade Center.
Araceli Ayuste, president of the Davao del Norte Provincial Tourism Council and secretary of the Davao Region Tourism Council, said the three-day expo is the biggest tourism event in Mindanao that is timed during the holding of Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival.
Ayuste said the event will also highlight the launching of the tourism road map indicating connectivity of destinations in Mindanao.
She said it is multi-faceted, multi-event exposition of Mindanao’s tourism and related industries as it promotes travel to Mindanao’s best tourist destinations. It is also designed to generate tourism related jobs and employment opportunities and tourism investments.
The expo, she said, will be backed with a job fair in coordination with the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), Regional Ecotourism Committee, Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Board of Investment (BOI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCCII).
She said the Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map will be mounted right at the center of the venue where the scale model of the relief map will show destinations around Mindanao and its connectivity from island to highland destinations. The road map will also be uploaded in a designated website that is still being worked out.
The expo will also feature the Mindanao Interactive Adventure Showcase, Mindanao Tourism and Transport Congress, Mindanao Tourism Investment Summit, Mindanao Wellness Tourism and Hospitality Showcase and Summit, TESDA Regional Congress, Travel Exchange and the launching of the Island-to-Highland Coffee Table Book, Ayuste said.
With regards the exhibit, she said there will 31 booths, nine Pasalubong showcase featuring the island’s “One Town One Product” (OTOP), and 17 adventure showcases with exhibitors coming from the different parts of the Philippines while the Malaysia Tourism Board will be sending a delegation during the expo.
Jonallier Perez, MTTE 09 event coordinator, said as to the adventure showcase there will be a simulation of the product right at the venue as he mentioned that the Fantasy Island of Dapitan City (the first and only theme park in Visayas and Mindanao) will mount a replica of its theme park at the site bringing with them their mascot and the tourist bus “Gloria de Dapitan.”
He said there will also be zip line that the visitors could try for themselves at a minimal fee.
He said among the confirmed participants are Bohol Divers Resort, City of Valencia, Davao Wild Water Adventure, DOT Western Visayas, Eden Nature Park, Hof Gorei Beach Resort, Leticia by the Sea, Nature Spring, One World Travel Express, Punta del Sol Beach Resort, Wind and Wave, Province of Camiguin. Expressing interest to join are the DOT-Western Mindanao, DOT-Ilocos Region, Province of Zamboanga del Norte, City of Dapitan, Zest Air, Samal Resort Owners Association, Province of Bukidnon and Camp Holiday.
Meanwhile, Ayuste said they had embarked the first of the four roadshows promoting the event to areas outside of Davao Region and had been getting positive responses of Region 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
During the roadshows, she said they also gather concerns and possible investors for a pre-match whose partnership will be firmed up during the expo.
Ayuste said this activity is anchored on the need to give greater emphasis on local tourism at affordable cost through interconnectivity and accessibility of all stakeholders. (PNA)
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